The Orange County Constitutional Tax Collector’s office announced today that it would immediately institute a Domestic Partnership Tax Equity Policy, which will establish a stipend to reimburse and make whole tax collector employees who continue to be discriminated against by the federal tax code’s treatment of domestic partner health benefits.

“Just like the 278 companies that signed on to the recent amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, I believe that ‘workplace benefits enhance the employer/employee relationship, which in turn is a key to institutional success,’” said Orange County Constitutional Tax Collector Scott Randolph, citing the brief.

“Until federally elected officials change the law, this stipend will help minimize the discriminatory impact that the federal tax code imposes on recognized same sex couples,” said Randolph.

The stipend offered to our employees will only seek to appreciably reduce the additional federal tax burden. As our office would be required to withhold taxes on the imputed income, the employee will not see any additional take home pay. Instead, the stipend will help minimize the additional federal tax burden. The stipend will not be considered salary and will not be included for retirement purposes.

The amount of the stipend will depend on the coverage sought by the employee—such as whether just a partner is added or there are also children added—but will range between $350 and $1,300 annually.

“While the total cost of this policy will be minimal, it sends an important message to the many Fortune 500 Companies that our local government respects equality while also ensuring that a few more of our citizens and children have access to healthcare,” concluded Randolph.